Minnesota Adult Basic Education
Assessment Training
CASAS (Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System)
CASAS is a competency-based assessment. In competency-based education, the curriculum is set out as a series of competencies (criteria) that need to be accomplished to show attainment of a particular educational objective. A learner's progress on a competency is assessed with a criterion-referenced test. Pre- and post-tests are administered to assess the learner's knowledge of the materials. The CASAS competency statements comprise the curriculum in which many separate desired skills are identified and taught, and the assessments are used to evaluate a learner's skill level. To learn more about CASAS, go to www.casas.org.
CASAS has created online training that can be completed by individuals on their own. These online trainings can be found at training.casas.org. In order to be certified to administer the paper tests, an individual must complete Modules 1 and 3. If an individual will be administering eTests, they need to complete Modules 1 and 2, as well as the Coordinator certification and/or the Proctor certification, depending upon their role.
Implementation Training
This is a basic, introductory training, designed to walk participants through the CASAS assessment process, from appraisal to post-test. The process of using test results to inform instruction will be explained. The intended audience for this training includes:
-
New teachers who are not familiar with the CASAS assessment system
-
Other new staff who may be responsible for intake and assessment
-
Intake and teaching staff who may be familiar with
the CASAS assessments, but who have never had the
opportunity to attend a formal Implementation Training,
and/or who want to gain a better understanding of the
entire system -
"Seasoned" Staff who want a refresher course in the
CASAS assessment process
Implementation trainings are 3 hours long. The optimal number of participants is 8 to 25 people. These trainings are available to Minnesota ABE consortia and their partners. Please contact Marty Olsen (martha.olsen@gmail.com) to schedule a training.
To view currently scheduled trainings, click on Calendar.
Test Competency Links
The links below will open documents that list lesson plans that address the
competencies that are assessed by the specific items on the tests.
CASAS Competency
Lesson Plan Links
Minnesota-Made Resources
CASAS GOALS Bubble Answer Document for Reading and Math
CASAS GOALS Bubble Answer Document for Reading and Math
CASAS GOALS Scoresheets-Appraisal-Pre/Post-Reading and Math
Pathways to Success chart to explain CASAS score (Publisher)
Presentation Handouts and PowerPoints
Below are links to CASAS Implementation handouts:
Links to PowerPoints for other presentations:
Video - Minnesota trainers demonstrate "what not to do" when testing
Click on the targeted competency content area. The page that opens will include links to lesson plans that address the targeted competency statements.
3. Health
4. Employment
6. Math
TESTIMONIAL
“The CASAS and TABE training/retraining keeps support staff up-to-date. So good to partake in the discussion at the sessions. ABE assessment website has many useful lessons."
Survey comment, Supplemental Services Survey